Clouds and Precipitation

Clouds

What are supercooled droplets?

A supercooled droplet is a cloud droplet that remains in its liquid form at temperatures far below the freezing point (as low as –40°F). Clouds formed of supercooled droplets pose potential hazards to aircraft that fly through them, because they can cause ice to form on wings and propellers. When low to the ground in the form of fog, supercooled droplets can also create hazardous road conditions by causing ice to form on streets and highways. On the other hand, supercooled droplets can also result in great beauty when they paint the landscape in a sparkling layer of ice that makes trees and other plants shine.